by KB Winters
I sighed dramatically and flopped back against the pillows. “How practical.”
“Tragically so.”
I watched with wide eyes as Ross got dressed. The way he moved, every play of his muscles, and every step he took was dripping with pure sex. When he pulled his sweatshirt on, he turned back. “You gonna camp out here? Or you need a ride back to your folks’?”
I glanced around his bedroom. “You wouldn’t want me to stay here all day, would you?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I don’t have anything to hide from you. Plus,” he started toward the bed, his grin widening with each step, “it’s beyond hot to know you’d be here, naked in my bed, just waiting for me to get home again.” He dropped a sensual kiss to my lips, his fingers instantly tangling into my morning bedhead.
When he pulled away, our eyes met and my breath hitched.
“So, you stayin’?” he prompted, dragging his thumb over my cheek.
I sighed. “I wish I could. But I didn’t bring anything to work on.”
“You could take the day off, bum around and watch TV. I have ten zillion channels, and you can even wear my favorite PJ pants.”
I laughed and turned my head to kiss his palm. “As perfect as that sounds, I can’t. I have to get my notes together for my meeting with Sam O’Brian.”
Ross straightened and took a step back as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. “Who’s that?”
“He’s a lawyer that has a lot of experience with appeals. My soon-to-be boss at the public defender’s office set up the meeting. He thinks he’ll be able to advise me on how to best move forward with Hudson’s case.” I stopped in the center of the room, all of a sudden realizing that I didn’t have anything other than my dress to wear. The idea of wrangling myself back into it was not a welcome thought.
“You can borrow some jeans and a t-shirt,” Ross said, obviously watching my mental struggle play out across my face.
I scoffed. “Like your jeans would even fit” Over one thigh, I added in my own head.
“All right, here,” he said, crossing to his large walk-in closet. I followed and hung back in the doorway as he rummaged through a dresser. He pulled out a pair of athletic pants that looked like they might work and then he grabbed a sweatshirt that featured the Knights logo. “This should work. You’re a real Knights girl, now.”
I laughed. “As long as I don’t have to wear booty shorts and jump around shaking a pair of pom-poms.”
Ross smirked. “You’d look so fucking hot in booty shorts, and you know I love it when you shake your pom-poms.”
Before I could object, Ross zeroed in for another kiss that made me lose sight of my argument entirely. “Although, this look is really working for me too,” he added, sliding his palm over my ass. “You sure you can’t stay here?”
He worked his way around to my front and when his knuckles brushed against my slit, I gasped and braced a hand against the doorway to the closet to keep my buckling knees from giving out entirely. “Damn, baby, you’re always so wet and ready for me.” Ross nibbled at the side of my neck as his finger lazily circled my clit. “I might be late to practice after all. I can’t let you go all day like this—”
I chuckled softly. “—That would be cruel.”
He slid a finger inside of me and stars burst behind my eyes as he thrust deep before slipping another one of his long, sculpted fingers alongside the first, filling me as my walls clenched and shook, already on the verge of a powerful orgasm. “Come for me, baby.” Ross’s voice was thick and husky in my ear, the warmth from his breath finding its way against my bare shoulder. His tongue flicked over my ear as he fingered my g-spot. A moan burst from my mouth, and I dragged my thigh up to rest on his hip, allowing him better access.
Ross flashed a wicked smile. “That’s it, baby. Give me that sweet little pussy.”
At his words, I bit back another loud cry and my body shuddered as I held onto him, unable to withstand his beautiful torture for one more moment.
Stars were still dancing behind my eyes an hour later when I tiptoed up the stairs to my room. The house was still quiet, and I figured my parents were sleeping off their own late night, since they probably stayed up long enough to watch the coverage from New York City as the ball dropped over Time’s Square.
Ross and I hadn’t seen the ball drop. As soon as we left Chance and Lacey’s dinner party, we went back to Ross’s place and were half naked as soon as we made it through the bedroom door. I smiled at the thought of him trying to remove me from my skin tight dress that had become even tighter over the course of the dinner. Eventually, he freed me, and we battled through the double-sided sticky tape and crashed together soon afterward.
It had been a hell of a way to ring in the new year. If it was any indication of what was in store, I was going to have an exceptionally good year.
I paused at my bedroom door. I could see something sticking out from underneath in the soft light cast from the hallway nightlight. I stooped over and picked up what turned out to be a large envelope. A sticky note was attached to the front, written in my mom’s handwriting:
This came for you. Good luck, honey.
I gasped as my tired eyes finally realized what I was holding in my hand. Certified mail. My bar exam results! The ones I’d been waiting on for months.
With trembling hands, I tore open the envelope and pulled the pages out. I squeezed my eyes closed tight and forced myself to take a deep breath. It was in vain. My heart hammered more frantically.
I stepped back and flipped on the hallway light, holding my breath. My eyes scanned over the papers in my hands and a muffled cry slipped out. “Yes!” I pumped my fist in the air. I passed!
The click of a door opening startled me, and I whirled around to see my mom and dad standing in the door of the master bedroom. “Well?” Dad asked, his bushy eyebrows hiked up high on his forehead.
“I passed! It’s here!” I handed the envelope to my dad and burst into the happiest tears of my life.
20
Ross
It was being hailed as the Blizzard Battle of the Midwest. The Knights were hosting the Oklahoma Tornados and it was going to get ugly. The snow fell relentlessly for days on end and even before we took the field, I felt like my bones were frozen from the inside out. It was going to be the hardest game of my life, but also the most important. If we won this game, we’d be flying out to LA to play in the Super Bowl in only two weeks and my whole life would change.
Not that it hadn’t already.
“You ready to kick some ass, Leverette?” Beauman asked, sidling up to me in the tunnel.
I gritted my teeth and forced a nod.
We took to the field with a deafening roar from the fans. I took a moment to marvel at the fact that every seat had an ass in it, even though most of the seats were open and exposed to the frickin’ blizzard. True Knights fans. I’d arranged for Shelby to be in the club level with the other wives and girlfriends. She wasn’t in a luxury box by any means, but at least she had an overhang to protect her from the snow and wind a bit. Lacey would be there with Aria, so I knew she wouldn’t be alone.
I raised a hand to wave to the crowd, silently thanking them for putting their faith in my untested hands. They’d embraced me as the leader of our team, and I knew that no matter how many playoff games I’d play during my career, I’d never be able to top the love and support from the Knights’ fans in this final push.
“Coin toss, Leverette, move your ass.”
I hustled to catch up to Beauman and made it to center field where the refs were waiting to get the game started.
The weather was more than a major factor in the game. Visibility was damn near zero and made it impossible to even make a handoff. I gave up any thoughts of a real passing game, so it was all about ball control. The only positive effect of the snowy weather was it kept my head in the game.
And what a game it was!
When the final whistle blew, I stood on the field,
stunned into silence as I stared up at the scoreboard. It was like I’d been captured inside a snow globe come to life. Everything around me was frozen and icy but I was immune to it, a statue in the blowing snow. I couldn’t even see the score—and could barely hear it over the crowd!
Knights WIN! Super Bowl bound! LA, here we come!
I shook my head and started to laugh. A low rumble bubbled up until I was howling and hollering with the rest of my teammates. “We fuckin’ did it! We did it!”
When Coach Wheels finally got us all corralled into the locker room, he gave us his final speech and though we all were still humming with excitement, a wave of emotion swept through the room. More than a few guys were caught swiping a mysterious something from their eyes.
My own throat was clogged with feelings that would likely take a few days to swallow. There were so many milestones to celebrate and many more still to come. I was proud of how I’d played for my team, and I knew my future was forever changed thanks to the unexpected opportunity.
“Take the day off tomorrow,” Coach said, standing in the center of the circle of all of us players. “Don’t do anything stupid. I don’t want late night calls that one of you lost their damn mind and landed themselves in trouble.” Everyone laughed as his eyes lingered on a few of the notorious wild cats of the group.
Beauman was beside me and laughed. “Damn, I really must be losing my touch. Normally, that warning would explicitly mention my name, Coach.”
We all laughed, and I slung an arm over my friend’s shoulders. “Secret’s out, Beauman. We all know you’re just a big pussy-whipped cream puff these days.”
He flashed a wide grin. “Damn.”
Coach clapped his hands. “This is for you, guys. Every one of you left your guts out on that field today. So take the day off and spend it with your family, you’ve earned it. But Tuesday morning, I expect every single one of you here bright and early and we’re gonna double down until we’re all boarding that plane to LA. Ya hear me?”
We all nodded and then scattered, everyone eager to go off to whatever post-game activities they’d lined up. For me, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and it involved Shelby and my bed.
Chance clapped me on the shoulder. “Should we go find the ladies?”
“Damn straight.”
He led the way, and we went out into the hallway. Lacey was there and started bouncing in place as soon as she locked her eyes onto Chance. She rushed forward, and he picked her up, effortlessly spinning her around. “I’m so proud of you, babe!”
I peeked around the corner and then doubled back to where Chance and Lacey were making out—much to Aria’s chagrin. The small girl looked up at me, a grim look on her delicate face. “Can you make them stop?” she asked.
I laughed and patted her slight shoulder. “Sadly, I don’t think so. Hey, do you know where Shelby is?”
Aria shook her head. “I don’t think she was here.”
My eyebrows knit together, and I slapped Beauman on the shoulder. He removed himself from Lacey and shot me a glare. “Damn, dude. Kinda busy here.”
Aria swooped in and took the opportunity to grab Lacey’s hand. “He’s looking for Shelby.”
Lacey looked up at me and shook her head. “She wasn’t with us. Did she sit down in a different section?”
Panic fluttered through my chest. Where was she? Did something happen? The roads were beyond treacherous even with the snowplows running around the clock. Had I been playing the best game of my life while my girlfriend—the woman I was falling in love with each and every day—was lying in a tangled mess of metal and glass?
With shaking hands, I fumbled through my coat pockets until I found my cell. There were two missed calls from Shelby. My stomach sank even lower. Was she trapped? I’d never forgive myself if she was hurt. I should have thought to send a car to get her and bring her to the game. Damn it, why hadn’t I thought about that? I shouldn’t have asked her to drive in this nasty snowstorm.
I held up a finger to Lacey and Chance who were both wearing confused expressions. I listened to the phone ring, panic swelling higher with each long pause. Finally, I heard her pick up and heaved a sigh of relief. “Shelby, where are you? Are you all right?”
“I’m at home,” she said, her tone almost like it was a question.
“Home?”
Chance and Lacey exchanged a look and then reached for Aria’s hands. “See you later,” Lacey mouthed to me as they turned away to head for the nearest exit.
I offered a weak wave before they were lost in the crowd of other players and their families. “I thought you would be here, at the game. We just finished. Uh—we won. We’re going to the Super Bowl.”
“I know. I saw the fourth quarter on TV. You did great. Congratulations.”
I dragged a hand over the back of my neck. Something was wrong. I felt like I’d just taken a wrong turn, landed in a bad neighborhood, and the car broke down. “Is everything okay? Are you sick? I saw you tried to call before the game, but I was—”
“I’m fine, Ross. I was calling to let you know I was going to miss the game.” Her tone was still too frosty. It set my nerves on edge. She sighed. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be there, to cheer you on, but something came up with Hudson’s case, and I didn’t have a choice.”
“What happened?” I asked, trying to keep my own voice under control and not let the irritation seep through.
“I had a meeting scheduled with this attorney who my new boss thought could help me with the case. It was supposed to be a cup of coffee tomorrow afternoon, a chance for me to pick his brain, but he called me last night and asked if we could move it to today. I had to go.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. She’d been working with another guy, on a Sunday, instead of being at the biggest game of the season. I knew I had no right to get territorial and jealous, but it felt like someone had dropped hot coals into the pit of my stomach all the same. I forced myself to draw in a deep breath. “All right. Well, I’m uh—I’m sorry you missed it. You want me to come pick you up and we can go get something—well, never mind, I’m assuming you already ate?”
“Ross, I said I was sorry I missed the game. You don’t have to be that way.”
“Be what way, Shelby? Disappointed? Upset?” I shook my head and scanned the room. Everyone was celebrating with their families. No one was so much as glancing my way. “Well, like it or not, I am. This was a huge night for me and when it was all over and done with, I wanted to see your face, to kiss you and spend the night with you. But instead, I’m here, watching everyone else.”
“Ross, I’m—”
“No,” I snapped, interrupting her. “It’s fine. You have your big case, and I’ve had a long night, too. I don’t want to argue with you.”
“I don’t want to argue either, but, Ross, you can’t expect me to be there for every game or be able to drop everything and be the big football fan! I have a life too!”
“Right.” Anger swelled to the surface, and I swallowed hard, pressing it back. I wasn’t going to allow myself to break. It wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth it.
Fuck.
Yes, she was. And I knew it.
Shelby had gotten closer to me than anyone in my entire life, and now that I’d let her in—she was trying to find her way out. Just like everyone else. I was a temporary, fleeting thing. Her fling. Her distraction until her real life started.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched at the bridge of my nose. “I’ll call you later. Have a good night, Shelb.”
I clicked off before she could object, pocketed the phone, and made a quick exit, not stopping to smile at anyone or make small talk. I hit the door and jogged out to my truck.
I had to get out of here. Now.
21
Shelby
”God, I’m such a bitch.”
“Did you say something, dear?” Mom asked, peeking back around the corner as she exited the kitchen.
I shook my
head and set my phone down on the counter. The coffee pot finished its final sputter, and I reached for a mug. “Just talking to myself.”
“Okay, dear. Your father and I are going to bed.” She dropped a glance at the full coffee pot. I could almost see her biting back a nugget of motherly advice about not drinking caffeine so close to bedtime. She just smiled and left the kitchen.
I poured a large mug, dumped in two spoons of sugar and a liberal splash of cream before returning to my place at the island. My notes, pictures, and files were spread out as I tried to write my opening argument. I’d managed to petition the courts for an appeal to a judge to retry the case. While it wasn’t quite the same format as an actual court case, I still wanted a strong statement, and my thoughts were too jumbled inside my own head. I needed to purge it all out and write it down, like a speech.
But after I met with Sam O’Brian and the unsettling phone call with Ross, I was more fucked up than ever.
I propped my elbows on the edge of the smooth countertop and planted my face between my palms, my fingers digging through my hair. “What the fuck am I doing?”
Ross was the best thing that had ever happened to me, but over the last week, since passing my bar exam and starting my new job, the cracks in our blossoming relationship were showing. Every time we’d gone out, I’d been so distracted by the questions blaring in the back of my mind that I hadn’t been able to focus on having a good time. I’d even been distracted in bed. Sure, the sex was still mind-blowing and hot, but it was like I was detached from it, as though I were some kind of voyeur, simply watching someone else with Ross.
I’d thought Ross was seeing it too, but after the phone call with him, I realized that we were on two different pages entirely. He wasn’t seeing the signs that I was, and I’d gutted him by not being there to cheer him on at his last game before the Super Bowl. The strained tone of his voice was still echoing in my head and twisting my heart into a thick knot.